Snow Play

Yesterday afternoon I decided I would force the boys to play outside as we have been cooped up for too long. The amount of snow is crazy and we just got a lot more last night. So I put both boys in their matching snow suits and we headed down to Jaden's house (Mason's 6 year old friend). I pulled Talan in the sleigh which amuzed him for about 2.2 seconds and then he whined and wanted to be held. We ate icicles while waiting for Jaden to get his snow gear on and then we headed back to our cul-de-sac. The snow plows have created a giant pile of snow in the middle of the cul-de-sac and so the boys pretended it was a fortress and jumped off of it. We tried to slide down in on some cardboard but that didn't work too well. Talan was just crying the whole time and just stood there watching Mason and Jaden. Poor BT. Mason, on the other hand, really seems to have fun with the proper gear on. That helps.

Today, the college is closed due to bad weather. The county is considering calling it a state of emergency. There is so much snow it is a hazard as power lines are being pulled down by the weight of the snow, people are without power, roofs are collapsing and fire trucks can't get through the roads as the snow berms and parked cars make it too narrow. Crazy.

I have never tried to push a loaded grocery cart through a slushy icey parking lot. It doesn't work, the wheels can't turn. When I looked around me I saw that no one else was using a cart, people where just carrying the bags. Oh, I get it now. Something new to learn about living in "weather". I'm still a total CA girl at heart!

I got up at 4am to study and I got in two hours before Mason woke up. That is my new plan, per Joe's suggestion, is to get up early to study as I am really struggling to put enough time into my Bio class. I have a heart dissection on Tuesday which I need to be completely prepared for before I go in and I have an exam on Thursday. Nobody said going back to school would be easy but oh my. I am shocked how much outside time this class is taking.

Missing Daddy

Last night Mason begged me to let Baby Talan sleep with us. I knew it wasn't going to work out (the boys sleep together in our bed at nap time) but I gave it a try. I put Talan's favorite blankey down and he was in the middle between me and Mason. I turned the lights out and told the boys to close their eyes. After a few minutes I heard Talan made a strange noise, a noise to get my attention. By then my eyes had adjusted to how dark the room was so when I rolled over to look at him, I could see he was signing "Daddy". I said "Daddy" and he nodded yes. He was missing his Dad and wondering why Daddy wasn't in the bed. So cute and sad. I said Daddy is working but he'll be back. I kissed him and cuddled him and Mason said that is why we are on Daddy's side (of the bed). Poor BT. The boys are so used to Joe being home. I think as they are getting older they are more aware of Joe's absence. But this our reality. It will go by fast. It always does. So I ended up putting Talan in his room as he was not going to lie down (he thinks its a big game). Tonight Mason is not sleeping with me as last night he kept me up all night whining. Maddness.

We are being bombarded with snow. It was crazy driving to church this morning. I don't plan to go anywhere unless it is totally necessary. I expect tomorrow will be a snow day at school for Mason. It hasen't stopped in 24 hours. Granted it is beautiful outside. It is kinda nice to be all cozy.

We did some painting this afternoon. The boys loved it. I am trying to repaint a train bookshelf that I purchased awhile back. Mason painted a small wooden airplane, a car and a door hanger. All the same mucky green. His favorite part is just to squeeze and mix the colors. Talan just painted with water a truck that I had previously painted. Messy but fun. Thankfully I put smocks on the boys as they, of course, got it all over themselves.

We have been playing with a lot of toys that we haven't had access to in awhile. So we are now really into our Kin-ex toy. This is what Mason is holding in one of the photos. He turns everything into a helicopter. :)

Oh, one of the photos is from last night when I put Talan's tattoo on that Aunt B gave him for his birthday. He wouldn't let me take a picture. He kept pulling his sleeve down. Mason wanted one too and whined when I told him Aunt B had only sent one. You can imagine the drama! This is the photo of Talan in the green onesy next to the stack of plastic cheese.

Tights

I just got off the phone with my sister and she expressed some disbelief and then alarm that Mason was wearing just tights. No undies, not another stich of clothing. He dressed himself this was. I was innocently folding laundry and he found his tights and put them on. We are having very cold weather so I put the boys in tights to keep them warm. Their pants ride up all the time, like when I carry them, and I don't want them to have bare skin in 16 degree weather. So I snapped some photos of Mason donning his tights. He is very happy in them. He sees no reason to be inhibited. God bless him.

A Package

Aunt B's birthday package arrived today. Very exciting. The photos show the boys in their new PJs. They went hog wild on the chocolate covered macadamian nuts (you can see chocolate on Talan's face in the photos). Talan took his first photo, its the one of just me. I had to crop it as there was a lot of the room in the photo. If you look closely into Talan's mouth in the photo of him with Spike kitty you can see the white scabs from where his tonsils were cauterized off. Mason is wearing his new rocket PJs and rallied to take the last photo which is of Talan and me (again cropped for obvious reasons).

We had a great time at mom's group playdate today. Unfortunately we had to leave early for our Dr.'s appt. Good news, the boys are healing well and Talan's ears look great. We will do a hearing test in 3 weeks. Cross fingers.

Joe left this morning and the boys have been missing him already. :( Mason signed "where is Daddy" and then Talan signed "Daddy" and then shrugged like I don't know. Very cute. Guess who is sleeping on Daddy's side tonight??????

Talan's 2nd Birthday!!!!!!!

I spent the better part of the day telling everyone I ran into that it was Talan's birthday and by lunchtime he was signing "no" and was over it already. :) I think he was told "happy birthday" a dozen times. Enough is enough for this little guy.

After nap this afternoon we took the boys to Triple Play in Hayden which we had never been to before (and now I know why). It was fun but the boys need to be a little older to appreciate it. We did enjoy a few of the rides and games. We redemed enough tickets to get a small slinky and a "baby" skateboard. Joe and I both braved climbing up and into the kids structure which delighted Talan as he was unable to get up there on his own.

We then took the boys to the mall to play on its very modest indoor playground. They had fun and we ate a bit of Chinese food there (the boys like the lo mein). This was followed by a quick trip through Safeway to pick up cupcakes.

At home we sang "Happy Birthday" a couple of times and relight the candles multiple times. Talan got the hang of it after watching Mason demonstrate. Mason needed to have his own candle to blow out while Talan practiced on his.

Overall, I think Talan got a lot of good Mom and Dad time today which is really what it is all about. Enjoy the photos and video. We certainly had fun. :)

Last Day Being One

I am feeling melancholy that Talan will be two tomorrow. He has changed so much just even over the last week. He is feisty, unabashed and defiant. Mason is a bit shocked as well that Talan is no longer this easy going little guy. We are definitely entering the "terrible twos". Lord have mercy!

The kids have had a rough week since their surgeries. Joe and I have had it rough too. Lots of whining and clinging going on here. The pain medicine tastes terrible which only exacerbates the situation. I will be glad when we have made it through day 10 which is supposed to be the end of the storm. Our follow up appointment is Thursday.

My biology class is kicking my butt. Lots of homework for the labs. I am enjoying the material though and feel that my enthusiasm is what will carry me through the course. I alternate between feeling anxious and scared with calm and assurance I'll do fine. I'd like to stay in the calm more often. I am going to hit up the tutoring center today to get myself more prepared for today's lab.

Joe and I had a great Birthday date night last Friday. We saw the movie Juno which was really sweet and had great dialogue. We were both pleasantly surprised. We had a nice dinner at Bardenay and then shopped at Costco for new bedside lamps. We just upgraded our bedding to match our new curtains my mom made and so we needed to upgrade our lamps too. The bedding is so soft and silky. Yesterday I found Misty under the covers in the middle of the bed. Clearly she likes it too. I've never seen her do that before in the ten years I've had her. :)

It was zero degrees last night so we let Spike Kitty in. He has been hanging around a lot lately and the boys love him so. He is such a lap kitty. And he purrs so loud! He is so sweet! The picture of me, Spike and Talan is one Mason took. He loves taking photos. Bless his heart.

Peekaboo and "Stop"

I gave the boys a bath this morning as it had been a few days. Talan has become so attached to his blue blankey (thanks Baba) that he had it the entire time he was in hospital and he wanted it immediately after the bath (somehow I need to sneak it into the laundry). So in the photos you'll see that Talan is playing peekaboo but when he was under his blankey he was saying and signing something. As I couldn't understand what he was saying or signing I lifted the blanket and saw that he was signing "stop". He loves this sign and he does it a lot. So funny! He thoroughly enjoyed me photographing him signing "stop". When I started snapping some shots of Mason, I saw out of the corner of my eye Talan signing "more". So I took more pictures of him signing "stop" which is what he wanted. Funny boy. As I write this Talan is hiding under his blanket waiting for me to say "where is Talan". It is so fun being one.

The picture of Mason is his attempt to make "bubbles" himself. He loves bubbles but hasn't mastered the technique. I love that I have passed on this tradition to my boys because I have so many memories of really enjoying my dad doing bubbles for Barclay and me.